About the The Beaufort Projects
Bournemouth Beach
We have 2 children's homes in the Bournemouth area - The Beaufort Project and The New Park Project. Both homes are registered with Ofsted.
Our Aims
Our main aim is to provide a positive residential experience for children. Both of our homes are managed under the same principles.
Both homes are 4 bedded and it is our intention to blend in with the local community. In providing a warm, supportive environment we aim to give children an opportunity to develop and achieve personal goals in a non-institutionalised setting.
We aim to ensure the physical, social and emotional care and development of any child in our care.
Offer a caring supportive residential environment where a framework of stable, consistent routines and behavioural boundaries are of paramount importance. We recognise that many children entering residential care can bring with them experiences and attitudes that may test and push these boundaries. We believe in balancing care and control.
Promote the use of positive attitudes towards good behaviour and social responsibility. We believe that the provision of a positive, supportive and safe environment may be able to divert a child's energies away from destructive and inappropriate behaviours.
Promote children's rights to decision making as far as is practical, to privacy, confidentiality, to be treated with dignity, to develop their independence and to preserve their links with family and community.
Consider all influences that may have affected any child in our care and aim towards improving the child's self esteem.
We are committed to providing individually based and considerate services to children working in partnership with local authorities, other agencies and all sections of the community.
Our Services
Our care packages aim to meet the complex needs of children and young people to a high standard. Our services include:
All personal needs of the young person are included in the weekly fee, this includes, pocket money, weekly bonuses, toiletries, visits to family and friends, clothing, telephone allowance, medical, dental and optical, activities and interests, holidays, birthday and Christmas presents and other daily living expenses.
Highly social work qualified and experienced management and project staff team.
High staffing ratios are provided, for instance 3 staff to 4 young people. We provide 24 hour staff cover, 7 days a week. There are always a minimum of 2 project workers on at all times, including nights.
An individual placement plan, risk assessment and behaviour support plan are developed and implemented within 48 hours of admission.
An initial 3 month assessment of the young person, the following is assessed, education, health, family and social relationships, identity and self esteem, social presentation and emotional and behavioural development. The assessment is undertaken by an experienced qualified social worker and a child psychotherapist
Individual therapy from our attached child psychotherapist and trainee child psychotherapist, if the child is placed for an initial 3 month assessment.
5 hours individual tuition per week for young people not in education provided by our own teacher, if the child is placed for an initial 3 month assessment.
Weekly reports sent to the placing social worker, family and other relevant professionals.
A range of specialist professionals and resources to meet the needs of the young person, e.g. life story worker, activity workers, family worker, sexual health worker, drugs and alcohol worker, art and crafts teacher, solution brief therapy workers, life skills worker.
We have also developed excellent working relationships with a range of agencies in providing appropriate services to our young people, these include, Commission Social Care Inspection, Youth Offending Team, Local Education Authorities, CAMHS, Connexions, Youth Work and voluntary services.
Cost
We have developed inclusive packages of care for placing authorities which reflect the needs of the young person. Our costs reflect the level of staff support and supervision to meet individual needs and manage risks associated with behaviours. Placement costs are agreed at the referral stage. Costs are all inclusive according to the needs of the young person with no hidden costs such as additional staffing, educational packages and therapy. We believe in the importance of clearly stating price of services, totally inclusive of all costs so that placing authorities may plan and budget with confidence.
Adding Value
We strongly believe that our costs represent excellent value for money, as measured by care outcomes relative to the cost of care. This equation is important. For example, if costs are not inclusive they escalate and if a care placements break down significant extra costs can be incurred by placing authorities in finding alternative placements. The cost is higher and the quality of service (and quality of life for the young person) is lower. There is also a drain in professional time in seeking alternatives as well as the physical and mental drain of crisis intervention. Part of the value equation is maintaining high occupancy levels so that we can continue to offer a high quality of care at a realistic cost that offers very good value.
A motivated, committed and well-trained team of people is vital to us and to the young people we look after. We pride ourselves not only on a high quality of care but ensuring consistency, both as a whole team working together, and in providing continuity of care through our own staff.
Effective care outcomes for young people mean we focus on what we need to achieve, agree clear methods and resources, build in checks to review what we do and evaluate the care experience. We are very person centred and strive to provide a positive care experience. We do not replicate the care experiences that many young people may have experienced previously. Neither do we reject young people and are prepared to work through their behaviours. We aim to break the chain young people have previously experienced such as rejection, multiple placements and the impact this can have on their future life chances.
